Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1887-07-27
SEARCH FOR A BODY.
Looking for the Remains OF
a Man Several Years
Missing.
The Result of q Family Quarrel---e he
Wifets Narrative.

GALVESTON, Tex, July a6.-The ex-
element caused by the search for a dead
body at the home of Mrs. Jean Marie La
case is still undated ard the yard is
overrun with curious people. The house
is situated on the corner of Church and
Thirteenth streets, being a small cottage.
setting far back in the yard. Since the
work was begun upon the well a full and
complete history Of the case has been se-
cured, which sounds like a strange ro-
nance, and If the body is found the story
of Lady Audley's Secret will here be
repeated. Ii the statement of Mrs. La
case Is true, it shows a diabolical attempt
at blackmail and persecution and a very
strange string of circumstances.
The Lacase family came to Galveston
in 1875, having formerly resided in New
Orleans, where they still have relatives.
In September, 1884, her husband, who
according to her statement, vas drinking
heavily, brought several charges against
her for threatning TO take his life by
poison. She, however, claims that this
was an halucination of her husband,
caused by heavy drink. One morning, in
|tDSplCihDCli tC aliCd hCI AuSudlu, dS
usual, early in the morning to go to the
market and cut up meat for the CUSTOM
ers, n he went out, and from that day
to this has never been seen. She made a
thorough search for him at the time,
even dragging the well in the yard,
thinking he had committed suicide, but all
her search was In win.
The charges that he had preferred
against his wife just before his disappear
ance doubtless led to another conclusion,
which from Mrs. Lacase's statement
seems to have been taken advantage of.
She said that several weeks after her
husbands death a lawyer of this city
came to her repeatedly and insisted that
her husband was buried in the yard, and
finally proposed to take $40, 900 from her
and guarantee to quiet the gossip of GER
tain people. She called in one whom she
considered an adviser, but this party, she
said, conntyed with the lawyer, and
thought hush money and a trip to Mex
leo was the best way of settling the mat
ter. Mrs. Lacase, not taking a very wide
view of the practical side of things, did
not take that Course which would have
suggested itself to one of more expert
ence. She has offered no opposition to q
thorough search being made of the prem
tses, and the well has been dug to a depth
of four feet and every portion OF the lot
where 1t was probable a body would be
buried. The sheriff of the county, who
has been supervising the work, will re-
port to the grand jury that he could find
no traces of any dead body. In the mean
time Mrs. Lacase will go before the
grand jury and make her statement,
from which some interesting develop
ments may occur.
Following the statement made by Mrs.
Jean Lacsse comes n from A. nuffard,
the one whom she called in for advice.
This party states, in substance, that Mrs.
Jean Lacase deserted her living husband.
Laws Large, who is now living at Orleans
Parish, La, to join her fortunes with
Jean Iacase, whom she left New Orleans
with, and anne to Galveston; that Jean
Lacase abandoned his wife and two
daughters, also, of whom Mrs. Lucire
Ucas, now resides in New Orleans, La,
and the other, Amelia Lacase, resides at
Planquemine Parish, La. According to
the further statement of Duffard, Jean
Lacase, previous to his flight with the
woman in question, sold his property in
New Orleans for $40, 000, leaving his wife
and children destitute.
Duffard claims that he was sent for by
Nine. Largie, now Mrs. Fragies Lacase.
just one year after the sudden disappear.
ance of Jean Lacase. To Duffard she
said that a lawyer had been at the house
the previous morning, VINO told her that
detectives were at work ferriting out the
mystery. The lawyer is also alleged to
have also told her that it WAS well known
thSt the body OF her husband was buried
in the yard, and advised her to fly from
Che country, as the remains of I.acase
woaAl be discovered. Mrs. Laease. after
!mFGfting This Information to Duffard,
asked him to- accept tile administration of
ier business affairs in Galveston, as she
proposed to leave the city at once, which
EDuffard declined, advising Mrs. Iacase.
however, not to leave the city if she was
entirely innocent of the murder of her
husband. Duffard again called upon
Mrs. Lacase at her request, when she said
that she had consulted a clairyoyant.
who told her that the whole affair was a
scheme to eNtort money from her. Duff
fard then closed his statement by SAVING
that he is satisfied that Jean Lacase was
murdered in Galveston in September,
1884, the date OF his disappearance, but
does not say whom he suspects. Duf-
fard has been in correspondence with the
family OF Jean Lacase in New Orleans for
some time, 1t is certainly a strange
story, and the issue will be awaited with
interest.